British invasions of the Río de la Plata
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The British invasions of the Río de la Plata (Spanish: Invasiones Inglesas al Río de la Plata) were a series of unsuccessful British attempts at military control of the Spanish colonies located around the Río de la Plata basin in South America, between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars in a period when Spain was an ally of France. The resistance of the local people and its active participation in the defence with no support from the Spanish Kingdom are seen as the penultimate step toward their independence.
First invasion
On June 14, 1806 a British force of 1,500 men under Colonel William Carr Beresford landed on Quilmes, to reach and occupy the nearby city of Buenos Aires on the 27th of that month. Viceroy Marquis Rafael de Sobremonte fled to Córdoba Province, trying to keep the city's treasure safe, but lost it to British forces during his escape. Sobremonte's behavior is seen as a display of cowardice in Argentinian popular opinion.One of the first measures of Beresford was to decree free commerce and reduction of port taxes. That displeased the merchants who benefited from the Spanish monopoly, who gave their support to the resistance.
French sailor Santiago de Liniers, under command of the Spanish Crown, organised the re-conquest of Buenos Aires from Montevideo, with help of the city governor Ruiz Huidobro. Also of importance was the participation of Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, chief of the urban militias.
On August 12 of 1806 Liniers landed in Argentina and advanced on the city taking control of it and obtaining Beresford's surrender. Two days later the government at the Buenos Aires Cabildo named Liniers military and political chief of the city.
Buenos Aires militias
Foreseeing the possibility of a second invasion, militias were formed by the Spanish and criollos, such as the Patricios, [Compañía de Granaderos de Infantería o Provinciales], Arribeños, Húsares (of Pueyrredón), Pardos and Morenos. The creation of such local forces created concern within the Spanish elite, fearful of an attempt of revolution. Ale putoSecond invasion
On February 3, 1807, Montevideo was captured in a joint military and naval operation using British reinforcements of 8,000 men under General Sir Samuel Auchmuty and a naval squadron under Admiral Sir Charles Stirling.In May, Lieutenant-General John Whitelocke arrived to take overall command of the British navy on the Río de la Plata, and attacked Buenos Aires on June 27. Buenos Aires' mayor Martín de Álzaga organised the defense of the city by digging trenches, fortifying buildings and erecting fences with great popular support.
On July 1, Liniers was defeated in the environs of the city. In this crucial moment, Whitelocke did not attempt to enter the city, but demanded twice the city's surrender. Finally, 3 days after defeating Liniers, Buenos Aires was attacked by an army divided in many columns and without the protection of the artillery.
Between July 3 and 5, 1807 a battle took place on the streets of Buenos Aires. Whitelocke underestimated the importance of urban combat, with which the inhabitants of the city overwhelmed the British troops.
On July 5, by the end of the day, the British controlled Retiro but the city's centre was still in the hands of the defenders, and the invaders were demoralized. At this point, a Spanish counter attack defeated many important British commanders, like Crawford and Pack. Then Whitelocke proposed a 24-hours truce, which was rejected by Liniers, who ordered an artillery attack.
After having more than half his forces killed and captured, Whitelocke signed a cease-fire with Liniers, and left the Río de la Plata basin taking with him the British forces in Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Colonia. In Great Britain he was court-martialed and cashiered. Liniers was later named Viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the River Plate by the Spanish Crown.
Towards independence
Having to fight the British invasions by themselves, with little help from the Spanish Crown, and given the Spanish King was captured by Napoleon, the idea of the independence from Spain grew stronger, and less than 3 years after the second invasion the events of the May Revolution of 1810 took place, as a prelude to the Declaration of Independence of Argentina of 1816.External links
- () [History of the Argentine foreign relations]
- () [British Invasions]
- () [Buenos Aires militia uniforms]
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